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ab。 But they could not equal the pace of the maddened driver up ahead。
〃Over〃…The Shadow's mand came from the rear of the cab as his automatic pressed the driver's neck。 〃Pull over and stop。 Stop hard。〃
Cold steel of the gun's muzzle spurred the driver to prompt response。 He had doubled the distance between his cab and the car behind。 The halt that he made was terrific。 He jammed the brake and banked the cab upon a mound of dirt at the side of the road。
〃Out；〃 ordered The Shadow。 〃Run for cover！〃
The driver dived from the wheel and scrambled over the low bank at the side of the road； never glancing behind him。 At the same instant； The Shadow yanked open the door and leaped against the bank。
His left hand clutched the lapels of his full…dress coat； pressing them so they hid the whiteness of collar； shirt and tie。 As his right shoulder struck the bank； The Shadow spun about。 Half rolling； half leaping； he whirled back； away from the stalled taxi。
He was a mass of spinning blackness in the shroud of night。 The Shadow was unseen despite the glare of approaching lights。 The attire of Lamont Cranston was serving him as well as any cloak。 In four swift seconds； he had hurled himself from a spot of pressing danger。
FROM the pursuing automobile came flashes of flame； acpanied by the roar of revolvers。 Bullets ripped the rear of the halted cab。 Slugs crashed windows as the big machine approached。 An open touring car； its sides offered opportunity for the marksman in it。
Opportunity lay elsewhere； also。 Ending his spin against the banked side of the road； The Shadow stopped with automatic levelled。 He pressed the trigger as the touring car arrived。 Not once； but often。
The kicking automatic sent fierce jabs of flame。 With every spurt； The Shadow's arm was swinging； following the car that had e to deluge the cab with leaden hail。 Screamed oaths shrieked through the air as the driver applied the brakes。 The touring car spun roundabout； a dozen yards beyond the cab。
Rising； The Shadow swung himself up the embankment； the action took no more than one swift leap。 Dropping flat； he aimed to deal with desperadoes should they require more。 The touring car was straight across the road。 Lights from an approaching automobile showed toppled figures dangling above its doors。
One unscathed marksman had seen The Shadow's shots。 Leaning from beside the driver's seat； he loosed a volley for the center of the bank where The Shadow had been。 Whirling bullets thudded the dirt； the air crackling as it closed behind them。
A single shot answered from atop the embankment。 A last burst from the automatic； it proved a perfect stroke。 The crook beside the driver jounced upward； then slumped down in the car。 The man at the wheel stepped on the gas。
Jolting from the road； he drove hard through a chance opening between trees。 Cutting wildly across a field； he reached a dirt road that led to another highway。 The touring car jounced from side to side； then sped away in flight； its driver carrying a cargo of dead and crippled pals。
Cars had stopped all about。 Lights were glaring on the road。 Those headlamps； however； did not show the right side of the taxicab。 Nor did they reveal The Shadow as he crawled quickly along the embankment； then dropped beside the taxi。
Leaping to the wheel； The Shadow started the bullet…riddled cab。 Shots had been for the body…not for tires； tank or motor。 The cab responded。 The Shadow drove it roaring； past cars that had halted in their path from the city。 Racing the motor to full speed； he whizzed into the city limits of New Orleans。
NOT long afterward； Lamont Cranston appeared in the lobby of the hotel where he was stopping。 His usually immaculate attire bore slight traces of grime； that fact； however； was not noticed by the elevator operator。
Reaching his room； The Shadow changed his clothes。 He packed his bags； then summoned the porter and arranged for his luggage to be expressed to New York； save for a briefcase that he intended to carry with him。
Going down to the lobby； The Shadow checked out； still in the quiet manner of Lamont Cranston。 He left the key； but he did not go from the hotel。 Instead； he returned to his floor。 The door was unlocked as he had left it。
Opening the briefcase； he produced a make…up box。 Surveying his countenance in a mirror； he laughed softly and began to remold his masklike features。 His visage changed beneath the pressure of his finger tips。 When The Shadow's work was pleted； his face was fuller and heavier than that of Lamont Cranston。 It still carried its hawklike semblance； that was all。
The Shadow strolled from the hotel room。 He descended to the lobby； walked out and strode briskly toward bright lights that glittered along Canal Street。
His gait； his manner…both had undergone a change as marked as that of his countenance。
TWO hours after the episode on the highway； two men arrived at the Club Caprice and asked for Rafferty。 One was Joe Cardona； the other； a tall； square…shouldered man。 Although clad in civilian attire； this individual had the military bearing of an army officer。 His face was as square…set as his frame。
Rafferty conducted the two to Medbrook's office。 The gambler arose and extended his hand； first to Cardona； then to the detective's panion。
〃Well； well；〃 chuckled Royal。 〃Lieutenant Wayson。 You're in good pany； Cardona。 Wayson is the best police instructor in the country。 An expert on small arms…〃
〃Cardona knows all that； Medbrook；〃 interposed Wayson； in a deep tone。
〃The chief gave him the details when he introduced us this afternoon。 You know my duties。 I confine myself entirely to revolver practice。〃
〃During the day；〃 laughed Medbrook。 〃And in the evenings； you see the town。 What are you going to do…take Cardona around the French Quarter？
Looking for a con man who might be picking off the saps who e to town？〃
〃That's just what we intend to do；〃 informed Wayson。 〃But that es later； Medbrook…beginning with tomorrow night。 The reason I'm out here now is to find out what I can about that trouble on the highway。〃
〃You mean that battle between a touring car and a taxi？ We heard about it here…that's all。 Anyway； it was outside the city limits； wasn't it？〃
Royal eyed Wayson sharply。 The police officer nodded his acknowledgment。
〃It doesn't e under our jurisdiction；〃 he admitted。 〃But that doesn't prevent our finding out what you know about it。 I'm here ex…officio。〃
〃I understand；〃 stated Royal。 〃Well； lieutenant； I'd like to help you out； but frankly； I don't know a thing about it。 The whole affair was off the premises of the Club Caprice。 We only received a second…hand rumor that there'd been a fight。〃
〃The cab showed up in New Orleans；〃 remarked Wayson。 〃It was found in a parking lot。 The driver arrived later； he said he'd picked up a passenger from here。〃
〃Any description of the rider？〃
〃None。 The fellow poked a gun muzzle up against the driver's neck and made him pull over。 He let the driver run for it。〃
〃And then the fight began？〃
〃That's it。 He heard the shots； then he saw his cab roll